Fusing live music with dramatic subjects from a feminist angle is almost a sub-genre in itself, with Sugar Coat (Vault Festival/Southwark Playhouse) just one example. Now, Laura Horton’s Lynn Faces comes to the New Diorama Theatre following a run at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe.
‘Lynn’ is Lynn Benfield, the long-suffering assistant of TV’s Alan Partridge. She inspires Leah (Madeleine McMahon) to form a punk band. The trouble is, she’s struggling to move on from an abusive relationship and has no musical ability.
Welcome to the show! Horton (who also appears in the show as mute drummer, Joy) has utilised issues of toxic relationships, female friendship, and the healing power of humour to craft this interesting piece of gig theatre (and more).
With fellow bandmates Ali (Peyvand Sadeghian) and Shonagh (Millie Faraway) adding to the chaotic performance of such songs as ‘Snazzy Cardigan’, ‘Kiss My T*ts’ and ‘Fat Cow’, Lynn Faces offers a fresh perspective on coercive control, gaslighting, and other tools that fall outside the domestic violence space but are no less damaging.
Leah, about to turn 40, shy and trapped in a loop with her controlling ex, Pete, uses music (composed by Anna Wheatley) to hide behind a mask she can control; but the chaos on stage starts to reveal the harm she carries within.
It isn’t all doom and gloom. Lynn Faces can be extremely funny (Faraway’s recorder playing is a sight to behold) and farcical (beware an errant crochet prop). This makes the serious moments more hard-hitting. An audience quiz, ‘Pete or Partridge’, reveals some shocking verbal vitriol. Song lyrics veer into traumatic territory.
Eventually, after a song where the word ‘C*nt’ is vibrantly mimed multiple times, the women reach a sort of breakthrough. Leah may heed Ali’s advice and let go. The hope is symbolic. Two notes, read out loud, hit hard.
Directed by Jessica Daniels, Lynn Faces presents much more than a sub-standard punk band. It tackles themes that are often disregarded as ‘temperament’ and drags them into the open, recognising as it progresses that abuse has many faces.
Horton has used some of her own experience in crafting this show and appears on-stage for the first time in it. One or two moments feel superfluous (the video show of people doing ‘Lynn’ faces was distracting), but this is a provocative show that shines a spotlight on emotional survival in a blackly comic way.
I’m giving this 3.5 stars.
Lynn Faces is at the New Diorama Theatre until 1 Mar with tickets here.
Image credit: Dom Moore